11% increase in NAV (net asset value)Shareholder total return of 14.3% after discount narrowsSecond interim dividend of 1.75p per share announcedShares in Witan Investment Trust (WTAN) were marginally lower in morning trading at 263p as the investment trust reported a 11% increase in NAV slightly underperforming its composite global benchmark for the six months ending 30 June 2024.The trust attrib

It can seem daunting to know where to start when making a first investment which may deter some people from starting at all. This would be a mistake because the sooner a start is made, the longer an investment is allowed to mature and provide capital gains and dividends.Waiting just a few years can reduce the potential saving pot over the long term. For example, assuming an investment of £100 a m

If, like many people, you have moved jobs over the years and accumulated two or more occupational pensions, now is a good time to think about bringing them all under one roof.As well as allowing you to work out how much is in your pension pots and where they are invested, by consolidating them into a single pot you can manage them more easily.In this article we'll show you how to go about this pro

Largest ever investment trust combinationNew vehicle big enough for FTSE 100 inclusionLower ongoing charges to followTwo of the biggest investment trusts are combining in the sector's largest-ever merger, with Witan (WTAN) to be rolled into Alliance Trust (ATST) in a mega-deal expected to complete later this year.The combination of these FTSE 250 constituents will create 'Alliance Witan', an inves

F&C Investment Trust (FCIT) Price: 974pGain to date: 4.42%We suggested investors buy F&C (FCIT), one of the oldest collective investment trusts in the world, back in October 2022 on the grounds it was a ?safe bet?.Fast forward 18 months to the spring of 2024 and the trust founded in 1868 and managed by Columbia Threadneedle is still delivering consistent returns despite a difficult macroeconomic a

We are weeks away from the end of the tax year and inevitably there is plenty of focus on ISAs ? whether that relates opening an account or using up existing allowances.In all the hoo-hah it?s easy to lose sight of just what a compelling vehicle this is for investors. Whatever you are investing for, whether it?s the cost of the kids? education, to supplement your income in retirement or to fund ho

You have opened an ISA - congratulations, you have already taken one of the most important steps with investing, namely getting over the first hurdle.This article will talk you through the next steps so you can start putting your money to work in the markets and hopefully grow your wealth.STEP ONE: ESTABLISH YOUR INVESTMENT PURPOSEPeople invest for lots of reasons. If you are a parent you might wa

Net asset value up 4.7% vs 7.5% from FTSE All-ShareShare price total return -2.6%Aims to increase dividend this yearF&C Investment Trust (FCIT) disappointed shareholders in the first half of the year by underperforming its benchmark, the FTSE All-World Index, and offering poor returns.One of the oldest collective investment trusts (founded in 1868) reported a 4.7% rise in net asset value which lag

After a decent showing in 2022, the UK stock market has failed to fire in 2023. The good news for investors is shares in other parts of the world have done much better and it has never been easier to have a globally diversified portfolio.There is an excellent range of products and instruments which allow you to participate in the returns from markets across the globe and, in this article, we provi

According to the Association of Investment Companies (AIC), private equity trusts delivered an average return of 409% over the 10 years to 31 May 2023, which compares very favourably to 156% for all investment companies.Yet despite this spectacular long-run performance, 14 out of 17 trusts in the AIC's Private Equity sector trade on double-digit discounts to NAV (net asset value) at the time of wr

Every sensible portfolio should ideally consist of a bedrock of investments which provide diversified access to steady growth, capital protection and income.This is relevant not just during challenging periods but most of the time. Just as solid foundations are essential for a safe building,they are also needed for an investment portfolio alongside patience.This article highlights five investment

Given some of the most successful fund managers go to the trouble of calculating the average age of companies in their portfolios it is fair to conclude it is an important characteristic of how they invest.In this article we look at why longevity in companies matters and identify some of the oldest firms across the UK, Europe, and US. Later in the article we look at some of the oldest investment c

With tuition fees in England currently standing at £27,500 for a three-year course, or £9,250 a year, your children might need a financial leg-up when they go to university. Fear not, as we have a plan.It's easy to see why students graduate with significant debts, particularly as there are rent and grocery costs to consider on top of tuition fees. However, with some sensible planning and a reaso

Achieving decent returns has been difficult in 2022 as shareholders in many investment trusts have found to their cost. According to data from the Association of Investment Companies, the average one-year share price total return from all trusts (excluding venture capital trusts) is -13.7%.However, several trusts have really stood out from their sector peers this year. In this article we highlight

Visibility is clouded and markets volatile at present, which means portfolio diversification should be the watchword for the cautious investor.A great way to gain exposure to a reassuringly broad spread of investments, diversified by geographic region and industry sector, is to buy F&C Investment Trust (FCIT), a global fund that covers a lot of bases with one asset purchase with a low ongoing char

During volatile market conditions and high inflation, investors are looking for ways to protect their income. Investment trusts have an income advantage which is particularly important for seekers of rising payouts.This is because they are able to hold back up to 15% of the income they receive from their investments in their revenue reserves. They can use these reserves to boost dividends during l

- Index changes to be announced tonight- Three new names to join the FTSE 100- Four new faces in the mid-cap FTSE 250Investors with FTSE tracker funds will be keenly waiting for details of the latest index reshuffle due to be published after the market close tonight.As well as changes to the FTSE 100 big-cap index there are expected to be several changes to the FTSE 250 mid-cap benchmark and the F

Mid-cap companies have always attracted investors. Seen as large enough to compete on a global scale, but not so big that their capacity for growth is capped, like many FTSE 100 stocks, an increasing number of investors spend time researching stocks on the FTSE 250 index, or simply buy the index through the handful of inexpensive targeted ETF tracker funds that are available.While many investors m

Funds and investment trusts that put money to work outside the UK are popular with investors because they offer diversification away from the domestic market at a stroke.Nevertheless, investors need to familiarise themselves with the different underlying assets of global funds as there are significant variations in terms of investment styles, underlying assets and levels of risk, even among the st

Sometimes it is important to get a bit of perspective, particularly when the outlook is as gloomy as it is now.Granted that's difficult when the governor of the Bank of England is using words like 'apocalyptic' and we're experiencing the most significant war in mainland Europe in most people's lifetimes.Many of you will have lost money on your investments in 2022 and anyone who chased some of the